On the 24th January 1962, manager Brian Epstein signed a contract with The Beatles. The management deal was time-limited for five years and gave Epstein 10 – 15 % of their income. Interestingly, Epstein didn’t sign this first contract: „Well, if they ever want to tear it up, they can hold me but I can’t hold them“. After that, Brian Epstein formed his own management company „NEMS Enterprises“. And on the 1st October 1962, the deal was renewed (including a three years publishing contract signed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney) and gave the manager 15 unitl 25 % of revenues, depending on Epstein’s help to increase the band’s earnings.

Four days later, the first single by The Beatles was released: „Love Me Do„, backed by „P.S. I Love You„, reached No. 17 on the UK chart and marked the beginning of an outstanding career of one of the most successful pop bands in history.

On the 8th December 1980 (Monday), John Lennon was murdered. Mark Chapman shot the musician four times outside the Dakota building in New York City.

John Lennon and Mark Chapman (8th December 1980)

Before Lennon and Ono were going go the Record Plant Studio, Chapman asked John for an autograph and the musician signed the cover of „Double Fantasy„. Then the ex-Beatle headed to the taxi.

John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono returned appr. at 10.50 pm to their aparrtment at the Dakota building where Chapman already waited. Then the tragedy happened: Chapman shot Lennon four times in the back. The British musician was taken to the emergency room of nearby Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 11.07 pm. The massive loss of blood caused the tragic death of the former Beatles member. John Lennon died at the age of 40 years.

Yoko Ono issued a statement the next day:
„There is no funeral for John“, ending it with the words, „John loved and prayed for the human race. Please pray the same for him.“

On the 30th November 1982 the most successful album until today was released: Michael Jackson’s „Thriller„. The LP spent 190 weeks on the UK chart and became the biggest selling pop album of all time. Until today „Thriller“ was sold over 50 million times worldwide. Also all seven singles outtakes charted, including the legendary hits „Beat it“ and „Billie Jean„. The pop milestone was produced by Quincy Jones with a production budget of $750,000. „Thriller“ received eight Grammy Awards in 1984, including for „Album of the Year„.

Also the video of the title song was game-changing in those days and became a classic of pop videos.

Happy birthday to drummer Matt Sorum, who was born on the 19th Novermber 1960 in Mission Viejo, California! Sorum is well known as the drummer of Guns N‘ Roses, with whom he recorded three studio albums. Before joining the Hardrock legends he worked with The Cult and Y Kant Tori Read (a project fronted by Tori Amos).